Disappearing whinger washing



Dec- 18, 1951 G. M. GIBSON DISAPPEARING wRINGER WASHING MACHINE Orgial Filed March 24, 1947 5 'Sheets-Sheet 1 @iban-Zi" y Dec; 18, 1951 M, GlBSON Re. 23,441 DISAPPEARING WRINGER WASHING MACHINE Original Filed March 24, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

U- wr i nl Inman-6m G6059@ M @mm Dec. 18, 1951 G. M. GIBSON DISAPPEARING WR'INGER WASHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original F'led March 24. 194'! Z i Ow m w i a 5 63 @L F, @AW m w.

Reissued Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISAPPEARING M Reconstruction Finance Ill., a corporation of the United States Original No.

Serial No. 736,745, Mar for reissue May 17, 19

7 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets WRINGER WASHING ACHINE George M. Gibson, Bellevue, Iowa, assigner to Corporation, Chicago,

2,493,916, dated January 10, 1950,

ch 24, 1947. 50, Serial No. 164,809

Application appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue speciication; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a wringer which is designed for use in connection with clothes Washing machines and more particularly with a small type household utility model capable of being stored in relatively small quarters While not in use. In this connection, the wringer is so constructed and mounted as to provide a disappearing wringer capable of moving about its mountings on the washing machine tub so that the Wringer may be turned over into the tub proper of the machine whereby the overall dimensions of the washing machine are directly determined by the overall dimensions of the tub of the machine itself.

It is one of the main objects of the present washing machine and the disappearing wringer structure to provide such a wringer which is capable of moving into and out of the tub proper of the Washing machine and wherein the wringer is so constructed as to provide a portion of the closure of the upper end of the washing machine tub when disposed in operative position and also when disposed within the tub and out of operative wringing position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for the washing machine which cooperates with the wringer and tub to form a closure means for covering the remainder of the open tub portion when the wringer is disposed in inoperative position within the tub[e], and such cover also provides the closure means between the wringer portion of the top of the tub enclosing the balance of the opening when the wringer is disposed in operative wringing position above the upper peripheral edges of the tub walls. This cooperative cover means also provides a tray which can be displaced from the tub closing position to a position adjacent the clothes discharging side of the Wringer where it is operatively retained by cooperative means formed on the wringer while the tray rests upon the upper edge of the one of the tub walls to extend outwardly from the tub proper thus forming a removable tray which receives the clothes as the latter are expelled from the wringer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the simplified wringer structure with suitable latch means which will automatically hold the Wringer in raised and operative relation with respect to the tub of the washing machine when the latch means is manually operated. As an additional feature, the base of the wringer itself is arranged and designed to support such latch means in a position to coact with a portion of the washing machine tub with a porverted and housed relation. When the wringer is so inverted and so held, the base portion thereof forms a part of the closure means of the tub per se.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a manually operable handle for rotating the wringer rolls which is connected with the shaft of the drive roll in such a manner [so] that it may be released, rotated and folded into a position alongside of the wringer rolls so that this handle will also be capable of movement into the tub together with the wringer Whenever the latter is being inverted and nested within the walls of the tub proper of the washing machine.

All other objects and advantages inherently relating to the particular design and construction of the Washing machine with the feature of the disappearing wringer shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description relating to a preferred embodiment thereof and referring directly to the drawings disclosing such embodiment and forming a part of this specication.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the washing machine and hand wringer combination embodying the principal features set forth by the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the wringer structure as mounted upon a fragmentary portion of the tub with certain portions thereof broken away and in section to better emphasize the details of the combined wringer and Washer;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the Washer-wringer combination with the. wringer in usable and operative position and showing the cover of the washer acting as a tray and in clothes receiving position adjacent the wringer;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational View of the wringer structure and washer combination with certain portions thereof in section substantially as viewed along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a fragmentary portion of Fig. 4 with the wringer rotated into nested and inoperative position within the upper portion of the washer tub and with the tray being removed and replaced to provide a cover for the open portion of the tub when the Wringer is in the position shown.

Any type of clothes wringer may be utilized in combination with the tub of a washing machine in y carrying v out .the inherent principles of the present `invention. The Wringer inthe construction disclosed is generally indicated at I and is conveniently secured and supported by a base 2, such base providing a lfiat undersuraCe 3 having upstanding anges 4 and 5 which terminate in beaded edges 6 and 'I, respectively. In this manner, the base 2 constitutes va longitudinal trough extending the length ofthe wrngerstructure and substantially from wall to Wall in the tub to provide a spillway for ,the waterand suds which are pressed out of the clothes ,that pass through the wringer thereby causing such water to be directed and discharged adjacent .the walls 8 and 9 of the washing machine tub I5 as seen in Fig. 2.

The disclosed wringercomprises vin general a pair of end castings Il and I2 supporting an upper roll I3 and a coacting lower roll I4 which extend between the castings II and I2 `of 4the wringer. The upper roll I3- is journalled upon a xed vshaft I5 --which also stabilizes the ends II and I2 o f the wringer, and such ends are also secured by means of lugs AI6 and -II', and the screws I 8 and I9 to the trough base r2 which stabilizes and joins `the Ylower portions of the castings I I and I2.

The lower `roll I4 is provided with a shaft 2U rotating in the bushings 2l andg2-2, respectively, which are carried'inthe cradles'ZS-and 24. Such cradles 2,3 and 2.4v are [each] carried upon the springs and 26, respectively, which springs are conned between the laterally, extending ears 27 and 28 ofthe cradles andthe spring seats 2,9 and `SI5 supported upon `the tips of thefastening screws I8 and I9.

With this particular arrangement, the lower roll I4 is at allgtimes urged against the upper k roll |13 while permitting roll I4 to move toward and away from the roll YI 3 during operation while articles of" clothing are passing Ybetween the wrinser rolls.

The manually operable vmeans for Operating the Wringer comprises A,a crank 3l having va suitable handle 32V designed for hand or fingertip operation, such crank 3| terminating at the wringer end with a stub shaft 33 having a tongue 34 which is pivotally connected by means of the pin 35 tothe ,bfurcated end 29 that rotates the roll I4. Stub shaft 33 is held in operative ,drivingalignment with the axis of shaft 2B by meansof a locking sleeve 3.1 which is endwise shiftable to permit the folding ofthe crank about the pivot 3'5 and into a position alongside the wringer structure whenever the latter is moved into the tub I 0 andinto inoperativenposition as in dicatedin Fig. 5. Normally, the sleeve 3'! is inthe positionindicated in the Figs. 1;, 2 and Sand such sleeve is of sufl'cient tightness to be frictionally maintained in its operative locking Yposition wherein it prevents relative movement-between the stub shaft 33 and the shaft `2Il about the pivot 35 and in which position suchsleeve disposes the crank 3| in operative wringing and roller driving relationship with respect to ythe wringer structure.

The wringer .is pivotally supported adjacent the ends of the base portion thereof in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 2. 'I'he end casting II is provided with an extension 4I! having a boss 4I disposed in direct alignment with a similar boss 42 formed on the end casting I2. A pair of pivot studs 43 and 44 pass through aligned openings in the walls 8 and 9 of the tub.. lll an@ 36 ofthe drive shaft fr l tion indicated in' Fig.

directly below the through suitable openings in the aligned, bearing washers A:45 and '46 and are `secured in threaded bores disposed in aligned relationship in the bosses 4I and 42 of the end castings II Vand I2 of the wringer structure.

The pivotal mountings described are disposed peripheral top bead 4I of the tub I, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the base trough of the wringer generally indicated at 2 terminates just short of the bead portions 41 of the wallst and '9 of the tub ID to substantially close off thisrparticular section of the upper end of the tub vby Ameans of the base trough of the wringer.

The wringer is normally held in the upright and operative position indicated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, by means of a suitable latch which Ais .bestshown in Figs; 12, 3 and 4 andcomprises 'a sliding bar supported for endwise movement through a suitable opening 5I formed in the lprojection 4i) -o'f the end casting -I I', such abar having `a taper-ed or wedge end '52 capable of locking engagement with `the lower edge -53 of the depending fiange54 which forms an integral portion of lthe shelf 55 that is suitably secured to the walls of the washing machine tub I0 by the flanges 56 and 51 through spot welding or by other fastening means. As shown in Fig. 4, the bead 'I of the wringer base 2 is of a sizeand is so disposed and arranged to abut the upper `surface portion 5S of the-shelf 55 thereby locking the wringer I'in :mixed-and upright operativeposii vtion for use during the wringing operation in coaction with the sliding bar 5U.

As -further Villustrated in Fig. 2, the lock bar 59 is provided with a depression G9 which coacts with a springv pressed ball 6I 'carried in a 'suit'- able bore J62 whenever'the latch bar 5I) is pulled by means lof -it-s handle 53 into `the 'retracted posi- 5 holding such latch bar in Vthis position by means ofthe ball 6I 'engag-l ing within therecess'i! in the latch bar. A second depressionlikee `may be provided inthe bar to hold the same'in its ylocking[engageinentfl position vas shown ,inFigs 3 and 4 although it is better to Ydepend upon the tapered surface of the endv 52 Vfor frictionally retaining the bar'i'n its operative `position and to rely on the Wedgelpolto tightly clamp the Wrin'ger structure-by meansv of the beadl and the bar' over the ltop and bottom edges of the flange 54 of the shelf 55.

completed, this cover 64 can be transferredto the opposite side of thewringer as shown in'full lines in Fig. 4 to provide a clothes receiving tray for the articles'of clothing that are passed from the tub I 0 through the wringer I in the direccantilever relation adjacent the wringer and in position projecting over the edge of the tub as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

After the wash day chores have been cornpleted, the wringer may be rotated into the 180 position indicated in Fig. 5 by release of the latch bar 5l) bringing the portion 3 of the base into horizontal alignment substantially adjacent the shelf 55 with bead B of the trough base engaging the edge 53 of the iiange 54 of the described shelf 55. The tray 64 may then be placed substantially as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to close up the upper end of the tub so that the three units comprising shelf 55, the base portion 3 of the wringer, and the cover 64 will completely close up the upper end of the washing machine tub ID. This rotation of the wringer into the inoperative and nested position within the tub Ill is also made possible by the construction of the crank 3l and the pivotal mechanism controlled by the slidable locking sleeve 31 together with the necessary clearance provided at the right hand end of the wringer as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by means of the extension or projection 4l] that permits the crank 3i to be rotated into the position indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. In this position the shaft has been moved so that the pin will be vertically disposed while the stub shaft 33 is then revolved 90 with respect to the operative axial position of the wringer shaft 20 bringing the crank 3i adjacent the side of the wringer rolls with the handle 32 obviously extending away from the rolls and into a position providing suicient clearance to rotate the wringer into the tub for storing purposes Whenever the washing machine is not in use. Other possible relationships of the folding handle are also possible in providing the means explained for permitting the wringer to rotate from the Fig; 4 position into the Fig. 5 position or vice versa.

Consideration of Fig. 4 will indicate that the cover is adapted to rest upon the upper end of the tub and a portion of said wringer to close off the remaining portion of the Washing machine tub. When the wringer is in operation, the cover is adapted to rest upon the upper end of the tub under hook projections on the wringer so that the cover may be used as a tray to receive articles of clothing discharged from the wringer when the wringer is in operation. When the wringer is rotated within the tub as indicated by the arrow around the pivot 43, the bottom of the wringer is supported in horizontal position as the wringer is rotated in the horizontal position by abutment of the bead 6 against the projection 53 which limits the rotation of the wringer in the horizontal position. From the above descriptions it will be appreciated that I have produced an inexpensive arrangement which adds considerable utility to the combination.

Changes in the exact form, design and construction as well as in the combination of elements are contemplated, but such changes shall be controlled by the language of the appended claims defining this invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a washing machine tub, of a wringer having a flat bottomed base extending between opposite walls of said tub. pivotal meansconnected with said walls and supporting the opposite ends of said wringer for movement about an axis to either dispose the wringer in stored relation within said tub or out of the top thereof in operative position,

said flat fil bottomed base providing a closure for the portion of the tub supporting said wringer while in either of its two positions, and cover means coacting with said tub and said wringer to close the remaining portion of the Washing machine tub.

2. The combination with av washing machine tub, of a wringer having a flat bottomed base extending between opposite walls of said tub, pivotal means connected with said walls and supporting the opposite ends of said wringer for movement about an axis to either dispose the ywringer in stored relation within said tub or out oi the top thereof in operative position, said iiat bottomed base providing a closure for the .portion of the tub supporting said wringer while in either of its two positions, and a cover adapted to rest `upon the upper end of the tub and upon a portion of said wringer to close on the remaining portion of the washing machine tub, said wringer having hook projections thereon pointing downwardly `when said wringer is up and in operative position, and said cover being arranged to form a tray capable of having one edge portion thereof engage underneath said hook prov'said tub, pivotal vwringer to support same for rotative movement jections with another portion of said tray resting upon the adjacent edge of said tub with the `tray overhanging the latter to receive articles of clothing discharged from the wringer while the latter is inoperation.

3. The combination with a washing machine tub, of a wringer having a continuous flat bottomed base extending between opposite walls of means at the ends of said tub, said flat bottomed base being arranged to form partial closure means for the open top of said tub when the wringer is in either of its positions, a cover adapted to coact with the open end of said tub and the into or out of said wringer to close the remaining open potrion of,

said tub, removal of said cover permitting rotation of said wringer, and abutment means on said wringer base adapted to engage a portion of said tub to limit the rotation of said wringer into either of its two positions.

4. The combination with a washing tub having upstanding surrounding walls, of a wringer having supporting structure and wringer means carried thereby, means pivotally carrying. the wringer on opposite walls of the tub adjacent interconnecting side wall whereby said wringer may be swung from raised operative position with respect to the tub to a lowered position within said tub, said wringer structure having at least one wall portion arranged to form a partial closure across the washing tub when said wringer is lowered to inoperative position, and means forming a horizontal shelf over the washing tub extending between said opposite walls and from said interconnected wall substantially to the wringer, said shelf coacting with said one wall portion of the wringer structure to form a closure for said tub when the wringer is in inoperative position.

5. The combination with a washing tub having upstanding surrounding walls, of a wringer having supporting structure and wringer means carried thereby, means pivotally supporting the wringer on opposite walls of the tub for swinging movement to an upright operative position, a cover for said tub at one side of said wringer and removably arranged to allow swinging of said wringer, a fixed cover portion on said tub at the opposite side of the wringer, and a latch movably mounted and spaced from an 7 on the Awringer' in position to engage a portion of said fixed cover on said tubi for holding the wringer in fthe upright operative position.

6. The combination with a washing tubi having upstanding surrounding walls, of a wringer having supporting structure and wringer means carried thereby, means pivotally supporting. the wringer on opposite walls of the tub to swingably support vsaid wringer between vertically upright and vertically depending positions, said wringer having a solid walled base, a fixed tub cover at one side of said wringer base, a removable tub cover :at the opposite side of said wringer base to allow swingingv of the wringer, and said pivot means including bosses fixed at opposite ends of the wringer base and centrally thereof, and pivot stud-s connected with said opposite tub walls on a' median plane between said tubl covers and ecctending into the bosses, said wringer ibase providing cover means to close the space between said tub covers when said wringer is swung into vertical depending position.

7. The combination vwith a washing tub having upstanding surrounding walls and having a top opening, of a wringer having supporting structure and wringer means carried thereby, means pivota'lly supporting the wringer so that the wringer means is over the top opening of the tub and to permit the wringer to swing into the tub for storage purposes, a cover to enclose the open portion of the top of the tub adjacent the wringer, said wringer having a :wall portion thereon to coact with said cover to form a continued enclosure for" said tub when said wringer GEORGE M. GIBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 379,935 Clementsen Mar. 27, 1888 1,053,379 Glasener Feb. 18, 1913 1,358,763 Longworth Nov. 16, 1920 1,524,390 Dil Jan. 2'7, 1925 1,972,778 Kennett Sept. 4, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 36,054 Austria Jan. 25, 1909 1,808 Great Britain of 1906 6,575 Great Britain of 1912 315,150 Great Britain July 11, 1929 383,695 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1932 389,488 Great Britain Nov. 15,. 1933 402,715 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1933 402,936 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1933 

